Engine starter



Jan. 6, 1953 ENGINE STARTER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Feb. 3, 1949 n .s u T T m m o V .t Nu- 5;.- 1m WA & v .m i M Y r m I m M W \w kllllllll 00 $4 an 7 Ma Q "m 3 6 7 5 6 5 Jan. 6, 1953 E. A. KLIEWER, SR 2,624,424

ENGINE STARTER Filed Feb. 3, 1949 2 sm'rs-smwr 2 Ficaz 12 1 INVENTOR. Edward. Albert Kliew er Sr.

Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINE STARTER Edward Albert Kliewer, Sn, Longview, Tex..

Application February 3, 1949, Serial No. 74,367

9 :Claims.

The invention relatesgenerally"tocnginestartersfand'primarfly seeks toprovid'e a'novel starterwhichwill eliminate all danger of injuries of the character stated.

An object of'the invention is to provide an engine-starter of the character stated in which the::starting torque is applied to the engine throughi'the medium of stored and released spring energy; and in which novel jack means is included for-'storing-the energy'in the spring means."

Another objectofthe invention'is to provide an engine starter of the character stated in which the-spring energy storing jack means comprises a'hand operatedhydraulic jack means.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an engine starter-of the character stated wherein-there are included a longitudinally shiftable sta'rtershaft having provision at one end for temporary coupling connection with an engine shaft; 'a pinion on said shaft, a driving gear sectorwith which said pinion moves into-mesh as gear sector and effecting the-couplebetween the,

starter and engine shafts, means for releasing the-jack to release the energy stored in the spring and cause. it to impartrrocking movement to the rocker arm and rotation of the pinion throughthe gear sector, and means for retracting the starter shaft as the engine starts so as to move thepinion out of..mesh with the gear sector and release the. couple between the starter and engine shafts. l

Withthesabove and. other 7 objects in view that will hereinafter, appear, :the nature of j the invene' tionrwill bemore clearly understood by reference to. the. following, detailed- -descriptiong= the 1 ap:

2 pended claims, and the: several views: illustrated in :the accompanying drawings:

Inthe drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation:illustrating the; in-t vention."

Figure -12 is anend elevation'of the structure shown in Figure: 1, parts being. broken away and in section;

Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional view illustrating one form' of hydraulic jack means.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view illustratingan optional couple head for use on the starter shafti In the example of embodiment of the inven; tion herein disclosed, there is included a base beam. 5 whereon is mounted at oneend a jack means generally designated fifand atthe other end a compression spring receptacle :1. Provi-i sion may be made at 8 for securing the beam to the floor. Secured to the beam 5 in any ap proved manner, as by welding, is a U-member 9, the uprightly extending legs of which' are-adjustably secured as at [0 to the depending legs H of an inverted U-member [2. The U-member H, I2 may have provision as at 13 at the top and as at M at one leg for connection withan engine mounting (not shown) so as to secure'the starter structure in proper position with relation able for use in'connection with other, types'of engines;-

The depending "legs ll of the inverted U-mem-.

ber I2 are provided with bearings l5 in whichito longitudinallyslidably receive the starter shaft IS. The starter, shaft'isj equipped witha couple pinl'l transversing its free end and disposed-for coupling engagement with the shaft of the engine which ist be started, and said starter shaftalso" hasv apinion l8 adjustably connectedthereon as atl9.) A set screw 20 serves to secure the pinion. in. properly adjusted position ion? the: starter shaft. At the other end opposite theendequipped with the couplepin I 1 the starter-shaft is equipped with a hand knob 'Zl' through the medium of a which said shaft may 'be- 'longitudi-i nally shifted to. engage the couple-pin H with? the engine shaft, and a compression "spring .22" interposed between the knob 2 l and the adjacent inverted -U-member leg Iiv isieifective toretract the starter shaft I6 to theiposition illustrated in FigureZ of the drawings after each starting op-' eration is completed.

A cross shaft '23 extends. across between the upright legs. Offthfi'iIlVBltGd U -member 12"," the ends of saidshaft :being passedthrough up-*-'- right ,slots -.:2diin saidlegszin" the manner clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Nuts 25 secured on the ends of the shaft 23 outwardly of each inverted U-member leg II are engaged above and below by adjuster screws 23 which are passed through threaded bores in anchor blocks 21 secured to the legs II. It will be apparent that by proper manipulation of the adjuster screws.

26 the position in space of the cross shaft 23 can be suitably adjusted.

A sleeve 28 is rockably mounted on the cross shaft 23, and it will be noted by reference to employed.

In Figure 4 of the drawings there is illustrated 'amodified starter shaft end portion 58 which is Figures 1 and 2 that a starter arm 29 is secured on said sleeve, as by welding, to project radially therefrom. At its outer end the arm 29 carries a gear sector 30 disposed to intermesh with and impart rotation to the starter shaft pinion I8 whenever rocking motion is imparted to the sleeve 28 with said pinion in position for inter meshing with the gear'sector 30.

A rocker arm 3| also is secured on the rocker sleeve 28', as by welding, and the place of connection of the arm 3| on the sleeve 28 is such as to provide long and short arm portions projecting at opposite sides of said sleeve. The long arm portion projected toward the right as viewed in Figure 1 is bifurcated at its free end as at 32 to' straddle a spring abutment plate 33 to which a cross sleeve 34 is secured, as by welding. A pin 35" passes through the sleeve 34 and through slots'36 in the bifurcated arm end, nuts 31 serving to secure the arm end and th plate 33 inassembly relation. A guide pin 38 depends from the plate33 within the upper end of a heavy compression spring 39, the lower end of said spring being seated within the previously mentioned'spring well i.

Atthe other or shorter end, the arm 3| is bifurcated as at 4|] to straddle an actuator member 4| which is pin and slot connected as at 42' with the bifurcated end 46 of the rocker ward movement of the shorter arm portion which I will serve to force said. piston or plunger 44 downwardly.

The jack means also may include a reservoir 46 and a pressure cylinder 41v wherein a pressure pump piston 48 is reciprocably mounted. The actuator or pressure piston 48 may be connected as at 49 with a handle or treadle member 53 which may be pivoted as at 5| to the casing structure in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. A fluid inlet is provided as at 52 and affords communication between the reservoir 46 and the interior of the cylinder 47, and said cylinder also communicates through the duct 53 with the interior of the cylinder 43, said duct being provided with a suitable check valve 54 which will permit pressure fluid to be forced into the cylinder 43 but will prevent any forcing of said fluid back into the cylinder 41. A pressure fluid outlet from the cylinder 43 is provided as at 55, and release of pressure through said outlet is prevented or permitted accordingly as the control valve 56 is positioned for closing or opening said outlet. It will be apparent that when the valve 56 is opened, pressure fluid may flow freely out of the cylinder 43, and when this is released equipped with a couple head '59 having recesses 60 therein adapted to engage in coupling relation with suitable projections'on the end of the engine shaft with which the starter shaft may cooperate. N

In describing the operation of the herein disclose'dengine starting apparatus it is to be assumed that the apparatus is securely mounted,

in proper cooperative relation-'withthe engine. to be: started; and that the parts are in the positions shown in Figures 1 and -2, the starter shaft l6 beinglongitudinally shifted seats to disengage the' pinion I8 from the gear actuator 30 and the couple pin I! from the usual fitting on the engine shaft. "By now reciprocating the 1 pressure plunger 48 through manipulation of th handle or treadle 50, pressure fluid will beforced into thecylinder 43 beneath the piston 44 so as to lift said piston and the connected shorter end of the rocker arm 3|. The lifting of the shorter end of the rocker arm 4| will depress the longer end of said arm and bring about a compressionof the spring 39. Thereafter the knob 2| is manipulated to shift the starter shaft I3 toward the right as viewed in Figure 2;thereby to cause the pinion- IB- to mesh with the gear sector 33, and also-to bring about a-coupling engagement of the couple pin I? with the fitting on the shaft of the engine to be started. With the parts "in this position the valve 56 may be manipulated to release the pressure fluid beneath the piston '44, thus permitting the energy stored in the spring 39 to rock the arm 3| and the gear sector 30 so as to impart the rotation to the pinion I8 and the starter shaft l6 necessary to bring about the desired starting of the engine. As the engine starts, the driving contact pressure between-the gear sector 30 and the pinion l8 will be momentarily relieved, and at'this instant the energy stored in the compression spring 22 will be effective to shift the starter shaft l8 to-the left as viewed in Figure 2 and bring about a disconnection of'the couple pin I! from the engine shaft;

It will be apparent that by starting the engine in the manner stated, said starting can be effected with an expenditure of a minimum effort on the part of the operator, and without any danger that the person of the operator will sustain injury in any manner.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departin from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

' 1. In an engine starter, a starter shaft,.means for effecting a temporary couple between the starter shaft and the shaft of an engine to be started, compression spring means, manually operable jack means for storing energy in the compression spring means, a single manually operable means for releasing the stored energy in the spring means and for controlling the rate of release of said stored energy, and means connecting the spring means with the driver shaft for imparting rotation thereto and therethrough to the engine shaft as said stored energy is released.

2. In an engine starter, a starter shaft, means for effecting a temporary couple between the starter shaft and the shaft of an engine to be started, compression spring means, manually operable jack means for storing energy in the compression spring means, a single manually operable means for releasing the stored energy in the spring means and for controlling the rate of release of said stored energy, means connecting the spring means with the driver shaft for imparting rotation thereto and therethrough to the engine shaft as said stored energy is released, means for manually shifting the starter shaft for temporarily coupling it with said engine, and means for automatically retracting the starter shaft from its coupled position as the engine starts.

3. In an engine starter, a starter shaft, means for effecting a, temporary couple between the starter shaft and the shaft of an engine to be started, spring means, manually operable hydraulic jack means for storing energy in the spring means, manually operable valve means for releasing pressure fluid from the jack means to provide for a controlled rate releasing of the stored energy in the spring means, and means for connecting the sprin means with the driver shaft for imparting rotation thereto and therethrough to the engine shaft as said stored energy is released.

4. In an engine starter, a starter shaft, means for effecting a temporary couple between the starter shaft and the shaft of an engine to be started, spring means, manually operable hydraulic jack means for storing energy in the spring means, manually operable valve means for releasing pressure fluid from the jack means to provide for a controlled rate releasing of the stored energy in the spring means, means for connecting the spring means with the driver shaft for impartin rotation thereto and therethrough to the engine shaft as said stored energy is released, means for moving the starter shaft in the direction of its length for temporarily coupling it with said engine, and spring means for retracting the starter shaft from its coupled position as the engine starts.

5. In an engine starter, a rock shaft, a rocker arm secured to said rocker shaft and projecting in opposite directions transversely with respect to the rocking axis of said shaft, manually operable jack means engaging one free end of the rocker arm and spring means engaged by the other free end of the rocker arm whereby said jack means can be operated to move the rocker arm in a manner for storin energy in said spring means, a gear segment movable with the rocker shaft, a driver shaft having a pinion thereon disposed to mesh with and be driven by said gear sector, means for effecting a temporary couple between said starter shaft and the shaft of an engine to be started, and means for releasing the stored energy in the spring means to bring about a reverse movement of the rocker arm effective to cause the gear sector to rotate the pinion in a direction for applying starting rotation to the engine shaft.

6. In an engine starter, a rock shaft, a rocker arm secured to said rocker shaft and projecting in opposite directions transversely with respect to the rocking axis of said shaft, manually operable jack means engaging one free end of the rocker arm and spring means engaged by the other free end of the rocker arm whereby said jack means can be operated to move the rocker arm in a manner for storing energy in said spring means, a gear segment movable with the rocker shaft, a driver shaft having a pinion thereon disposed to mesh with and be driven by said gear sector, means for effecting a temporary couple between said starter shaft and the shaft of an engine to be started, means for releasing the stored energy in the spring means to bring about a reverse movement of the rocker arm effective to cause the gear sector to rotate the pinion in a direction for applyin starting rotation to the engine shaft, and means for shifting the starter shaft longitudinally in one direction to bring the pinion into meshing contact with the gear sector and the starter shaft into temporary couple with the engine shaft prior to the starting of the engine, and in the opposite direction to move the pinion away from the gear sector and to break said temporary couple as the engine is started.

7. In an engine starter of the character described, a longitudinally shiftable starter shaft having provision at one end for temporary coupling connection with an engine shaft, a pinion on said starter shaft, a driving gear sector with which said pinion moves into mesh as the couple between the starter shaft and the engine shaft is effected by longitudinal shifting of said starter shaft, a rocker arm connected for movement with said sector, spring means engaged by one end of the rocker arm for having energy stored therein as the arm is moved in one direction, jack means engaged by the other end of the rocker arm and adapted to move said arm in said one direction, means for shifting the starter shaft for meshing the pinion with the gear sector and effecting the couple between the starter and engine shafts, means for releasing the jack to release the energy stored in the spring and cause it to impart rocking movement to the rocker arm and rotation of the pinion through the gear sector, and means for retracting the starter shaft as the engine starts so as to move the pinion out of mesh with the gear sector and release the couple between the starter and engine shafts.

8. An engine starter as defined in claim '7 in which the jack means comprises a hydraulic jack including a piston connected with the rocker arm and a hand operated pump for applying pressure to the piston, and in which the release means comprises a valve for releasing pressure acting against said piston.

9. An engine starter as defined in claim 7 in which the jack means comprises a hydraulic jack including a piston connected with the rocker arm and a hand operated pump for applying pressure to the piston, and in which the release means comprises a bleed valve for releasing pressure fluid acting against said piston at a controlled rate, thereby to provide for a controlled rate releasing of the stored energy in the spring means.

EDWARD ALBERT KLIEWER, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

